ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Defence
ASI Athlete creates history by breaking National Record and Qualifying for Tokyo Olympics 2021
At the 8th National Race Walking Championship, held at Ranchi, Athletes of ASI created history by Qualifying for Tokyo Olympics 2021. Nb Sub Sandeep Kumar of 16 JAT Regiment won Gold medal and created a new National Record with timing of 1:: 20.16sec & Gdr Rahul of 18 Grenadiers secured Silver medal with timing of 1::20.26sec both the athletes secured berth for Tokyo 2021.
The National Open Race Walking Championships are the first major athletics event after the end of a COVID-19 lock down. The Tokyo Olympics qualification time for men's 20 km race walk event is 1::21:00sec. A country can send a maximum of three athletes in an individual event. Nb Sub Irfan KT of ASI had already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics way back in March 2019 during the Asian Race Walking Championships in Nomi, Japan.
Sandeep, who represented India in the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 50km race walk event, bettered the earlier national record of 1::20:21sec, which was jointly held by Nb Sub Irfan T and Nb Sub Devender Singh.
Prime Minister's Office
India’s First Semi High Speed Train, “Vande Bharat Express" to be flagged off by PM tomorrow
New Delhi-Varanasi train journey to be covered in just 8 hours
Train will Run on all days Except Mondays and Thursdays
Speed, Scale and Service-Hallmarks of Vande Bharat Express
A Make-in-India Success Story
The ‘Make in India’ effort of Indian Railways has culminated into India's first Semi High Speed Train, "Vande Bharat Express".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the maiden run of the train on New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi route train tomorrow morning from the New Delhi Railway Station. He will inspect the facilities in the train and address a gathering on this occasion.
Union Minister of Railways and Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal will lead the team of officials and media persons aboard the train on its inaugural run tomorrow. It will stop at Kanpur and Allahabad where it will be received by dignitaries and the people.
Vande Bharat Express can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph and has travel classes like Shatabdi Train but with better facilities. It aims to provide a totally new travel experience to passengers.
The Train will cover the distance between New Delhi and Varanasi in 8 hours and will run on all days except Mondays and Thursdays.
All coaches are equipped with automatic doors, GPS based audio-visual passenger information system, on-board hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purposes, and very comfortable seating. All toilets are bio-vacuum type. The lighting is dual mode, viz. diffused for general illumination and personal for every seat. Every coach has a pantry with facility to serve hot meals, hot and cold beverages. The insulation is meant to keep heat and noise to very low levels for additional passenger comfort.
Vande Bharat Express has 16 air-conditioned coaches of which 2 are executive class coaches. The total seating capacity is 1,128 passengers. It is much more than the conventional Shatabdi rake of equal number of coaches, thanks to shifting of all electric equipment below the coaches and seats in the driving coach also.
Adding up the green footprints, the train has regenerative braking system in the Vande Bharat Express coaches which can save up to 30% of electrical energy.
Speed, Safety and Service are the hallmarks of this train.Integral Coach Factory , Chennai, a Railways Production unit, has been the force behind a completely in-house design and manufacture, computer modelling and working with a large number of suppliers for system integration in just 18 months.
In keeping with the vision of Prime Minister’s vision of "Make in India", the major systems of the train have been designed and built in India. Impact of this train, matching global standards of performance, safety and passenger comfort and yet costing less than half of global prices, has the potential to be a game changer in the global rail business.
Prime Minister's Office
Telephone Conversation between PM and President of the Maldives
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Maldives.
The leaders updated each other about the current state of COVID-19 infections in their countries.
They expressed satisfaction that the coordination modalities agreed between SAARC countries were being implemented actively.
Prime Minister was happy to hear that the Indian medical team deployed earlier to Maldives, and the essential medicines gifted by India, had contributed towards controlling the spread of the infection in the islands.
Appreciating the special challenges that the pandemic poses for a tourism-dependent economy like the Maldives, Prime Minister assured the Maldivian President of continued Indian support for minimising the health and economic impact of COVID-19.
The two leaders agreed that their officials would remain in touch on issues arising out of the present health crisis, as well as other aspects of bilateral cooperation.
Ministry of Defence
Raksha mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurates Air force commanders’ conference
1. The first bi-annual Commanders’ Conference of IAF for the year 2019 began today at the Air Headquarters . Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC, welcomed the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman to the conference.
2. The Raksha Mantri addressed the Air Force Commanders. She complimented the IAF and its air warriors for achieving and maintaining the highest standards of professionalism in the service of the nation. She praised the IAF for its flawless execution of the Balakot strikes and subsequent thwarting of the Pakistani response. She said that the IAF has proved its mettle in Exercise Gagan Shakti 2018 and Vayu Shakti 2019 and the same reflected in the successfully conducted Balakot Strike and air action on 27 February.
3. She stressed on a proactive role of the IAF in the Indian Ocean Region and relationships through Military interactions and HADR. She asked the IAF to look at the future with the latest technologies available across the world and those that can be developed within India, in order to meet its needs.
4. She added that the IAF will play a vital role in enhancing the defence manufacturing capabilities of the nation through its acquisitions in the form of Strategic Partnership Model. She added that she is aware of the critical requirements projected by the IAF and assured that as a Nation we need to build those capabilities. She said that IAF personnel, serving and retired could contribute immensely in enhancing defence manufacturing and production in India. The defence production industry must utilize these assets to the fullest. She expressed great appreciation for the training imparted to all personnel in the IAF as reflected in the actions and conduct of Wing Commander Abhinandan.
6. The CAS while addressing the Commanders emphasised on further enhancement of the IAF’s capability in the field of Space, Cyber, Information, AI and Drone technology.
7. During the two day conference, discussions and deliberations will take place in line with the theme of the conference of ‘Enhancing our operational capability in the short and long term’. The successful strike over Balakot and air action on 27 February will also be discussed along with the latest technologies in the aviation field to make IAF a more high tech force.
Department of Atomic Energy
Nuclear Power Plants for Electricity Generation
The present installed nuclear power capacity in the country comprises of 22 reactors with a total capacity of 6780 MW. Of these one reactor, RAPS-1  is under extended shutdown for techno-economic assessment. The nuclear power plants contribute about 3% of the total electricity generated in the country.
The electrical energy requirement of the country for year 2018-19 is 1274595 MUs whereas projected energy requirement for year 2021-22 is 1566023 MUs. The percentage increase in energy requirement for the country till 2021-2022 w.r.t. energy requirement of 2018-19 is 22.86%
Nuclear power plants are being established along with electricity generating plants of other technologies to meet the electricity requirements of the country. The details of location and capacity in MW of the nuclear power plants being set up are as follows:
 Nuclear power plants under Construction:
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|
State
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|
Location
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|
Project
|
|
Capacity 
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|
Gujarat
|
|
Kakrapar
|
|
KAPP-3&4
|
|
2 x 700
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
Rawatbhata
|
|
RAPP-7&8
|
|
2 X 700
|
|
Haryana
|
|
Gorakhpur
|
|
GHAVP-1&2
|
|
2 X 700
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
Kudankulam
|
|
KKNPP– 3&4
|
|
2 X 1000
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
Kalpakkam
|
|
PFBR
|
|
500
 Nuclear power plants accorded administrative approval and financial sanction on which pre-project activities are in progress:
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|
State
|
|
Location
|
|
Project
|
|
Capacity
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
Chutka
|
|
Chutka - 1&2
|
|
2 X 700
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
Kaiga
|
|
Kaiga - 5&6
|
|
2 X 700
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
Mahi Banswara
|
|
Mahi Banswara - 1&2
|
|
2 X 700
|
|
Mahi Banswara - 3&4
|
|
2 X 700
|
|
Haryana
|
|
Gorakhpur
|
|
GHAVP - 3&4
|
|
2 X 700
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
Kudankulam
|
|
KKNPP - 5&6
|
|
2 X 1000
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in RajyaSabha today.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
11 States reports distribution of fortified rice in identified districts under the pilot scheme on "Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System"
The Pilot Scheme is for a period of 3 years beginning in 2019-20 with total outlay of Rs. 174.64 Cr
The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today informed that the Government of India approved the Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on "Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System" for a period of 3 years beginning in 2019-20 with total outlay of Rs. 174.64 Cr. The Pilot Scheme focuses on 15 districts across 15 states, preferably 1 district per State. Out of 15 States which consented for the Pilot Scheme, so far eleven  States namely Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand have reported distribution of fortified rice in their identified districts under the pilot scheme. So far 3.64 Lakh Metric Ton  of fortified rice has been distributed under the Pilot Scheme.
The incremental cost @ 73 paise per Kg is uniformly reimbursed by the States/UTs to the Millers for production of fortified rice and shared between the Centre and the States/UTs in the ratio of 90:10 in case of North–East, Hilly and Island States/UTs and 75:25 in case of rest of the States.
Ministry of Defence
Indian Navy Supports Fight Against Covid19 In Port Blair
Reaching out to those in need during the Covid-19 crisis, Naval Air Station  Utkrosh and Material Organisation  carried out food distribution in Port Blair.
NAS Utkrosh organised food distribution camp for 155 labourers working for the infrastructural development of the Air Station. The labourers are presently staying in the vicinity of the Air Station.
A team from MO visited the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and distributed cooked meals and dry provisions for the children and staff. Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram is a non profit organization providing food and shelter to adivasi children. The organization has a unit operating at Port Blair housing around 38 children. The organization also provides lodging facility to poor adivasi families visiting Port Blair for medical treatment. The team also sensitised the children and staff about the COVID-19 and the precautions to be exercised during lockdown to avoid spread of the pandemic.
VM/ MS
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Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NH projects in Madhya Pradesh
In a series of tweets Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari said that approval for extension of NH 146  from Budhni to Bari and from Nasrullaganj to Sandalpur has been given on the request of Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Chouhan. The Minister said the Bari-Budhni-Rehti-Nasrullaganj-Sandalpur corridor will be completed with the extension of the above National Highway. With this, Indore and Jabalpur will be connected with each other by national highway, he added. Shri Gadkari said a target has been set to complete the DPR process of the above route and get it approved by the end of this year.
The Minister said on the request of Union Minister Shri Prahlad S Patel, the 110 km long Jabalpur-Damoh section has been entrusted by the Ministry of Road Transport and National Highways. He said the DPR of Aurchha-Tikamgarh-Hirapur  National Highway No. 539 and Hirapur-Damoh  National Highway No. 34 will be completed by December 2022 and a target has been set to get the work approved by March 2023. With the construction of both the routes, the connectivity of Jabalpur-Damoh-Tikamgarh-Aurachha will be completed through the National Highway, the Minister said.
Ministry of Home Affairs
Modi Government has approved proposal for continuation of seven existing sub-schemes under Umbrella Scheme “Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates” for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26
Umbrella Scheme has total outlay of Rs. 1,452 crore
Approval will ensure assistance under Umbrella Scheme continues to reach beneficiaries through Ministry of Home Affairs led by Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah
The Modi Government has approved the proposal for continuation of the seven existing sub schemes under the Umbrella Scheme “Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates” for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs.1,452 crore. The approval will ensure that assistance under the Umbrella Scheme, continues to reach beneficiaries through the Ministry of Home Affairs led by Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah
The scheme enables migrants and repatriates, who have suffered on account of displacement, to earn a reasonable income and to facilitate their inclusion in mainstream economic activities.
The Government, at different points of time had started different schemes. These seven schemes provide assistance for –
- Relief and Rehabilitation of displaced families of Pakistan Occupied Areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Chhamb,
- Relief assistance to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees,
- Relief assistance to Brus lodged in relief camps in Tripura,
- Enhanced relief to 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot Victims,
- Financial Assistance and other facilities to the families of affected civilian victims of terrorist violence including militancy, insurgency, communal/ Left Wing Extremism violence and cross border firing and victims of mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory,
- Grants-in-aid to Central Tibetan Relief Committee ,
- The Government is also providing Grants-in-Aid to Government of West Bengal for infrastructure development in 51 erstwhile Bangladeshi enclaves in India, situated in Cooch Behar District and for resettlement of 922 returnees from erstwhile Indian enclaves in Bangladesh.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID-19 Vaccination Update- Day 224
India records highest single-day vaccine coverage yet; Over 93 lakh doses administered
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage crosses 62 Cr landmark milestone
India has administered more than 93 lakh doses under its Nationwide Vaccination drive. This is highest ever vaccination achieved in a single day since the start of our vaccination drive.In another significant achievement, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 62 Crore  landmark milestoneas per the 7 pm provisional report today. Final reports would be completed for the day by late tonight.
The cumulative coverage of vaccine doses, segregated based on population priority groups, is as follows:
|
|
|
|
Cumulative Vaccine Dose Coverage
|
|
|
|
Healthcare workers
|
|
Frontline workers
|
|
People Aged 18-44 Years
|
|
People Aged 45-59 Years
|
|
People Aged ≥ 60 Years
|
|
Total
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
10356756
|
|
18316023
|
|
237215353
|
|
127725060
|
|
85535801
|
|
479148993
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
8320406
|
|
12948955
|
|
24560807
|
|
52189432
|
|
43774987
|
|
141794587
Today’s achievement in the vaccination exercise, segregated by population priority groups, is as follows:
|
|
|
|
Date: 27thAugust, 2021 
|
|
|
|
Healthcare workers
|
|
Frontline workers
|
|
People Aged 18-44 Years
|
|
People Aged 45-59 Years
|
|
People Aged ≥ 60 Years
|
|
Total
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
355
|
|
1484
|
|
4441298
|
|
1086667
|
|
477850
|
|
6007654
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
23846
|
|
84499
|
|
1067732
|
|
760696
|
|
399386
|
|
2336159
The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Cabinet approves extension of relaxation of mandatory requirement of Aadhaar seeding of data in respect of beneficiaries of the States of Assam and Meghalaya and UTs of J&K and Ladakh for one year w.e.f. 1st April, 2020 under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi  Scheme
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to relax the mandatory requirement of Aadhaar seeding of data beneficiaries of the States of Assam and Meghalaya and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for release of benefits to them under PM-Kisan Scheme upto 31st March, 2021.
The Pradhan MantriKisanSammanNidhi  Scheme was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 24 February, 2019. The Scheme aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions. Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs.6000/- per year is released in three 4-monthly instalments of Rs.2000/- each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The Scheme is effective from 1st December, 2018. From 1st December, 2019, release of benefits is done only through Aadhaar seeded data of beneficiaries uploaded by the State / UT Governments on the PM-KISAN portal, except in case of the States of Assam and Meghalaya and the UTs of J&K and Ladakh, which have been given exemption from this requirement till 31st March, 2020, as Aadhaar penetration there has been miniscule.
It has been assessed that it would take much more time for the States of Assam and Meghalaya and the UTs of J&K and Ladakh to complete the work of Aadhaar seeding of data of beneficiaries and the beneficiaries of these States / UTs may not be able to avail the benefits of the Scheme w.e.f. 1st April, 2020 onwards, if the relaxation from mandatory requirement of Aadhaar seeding of data is not extended.
The total number of beneficiary farmers in these States and UTs who have been paid at least one installment as on 8.4.2020 are 27,09,586 beneficiaries in Assam, 98,915 beneficiaries in Meghalaya and 10,01,668 beneficiaries in J&K, including Ladakh.
Competition Commission of India
CCI approves Joint Venture between Adani Green Energy Limited and Total S.A. in power generation through solar energy in India
The Competition Commission of India  approves formation of Joint Venture between Adani Green Energy Limited and Total S.A. in the business of power generation through solar energy in India.
The proposed combination envisages Adani Green Energy Limited transferring certain of its subsidiaries to a newly incorporated company . Subsequently, Total S.A. would directly or indirectly acquire 50% of the equity share capital of the JV.
Total S.A. is the ultimate parent entity of the Total Group. Total Group is an international integrated energy producer with operations in every sector of the oil and gas industry. Total Group is also involved in renewable energy and power generation sectors in India.
The Target Companies are active in the business of power generation through solar energy in India.
Detailed order of the CCI will follow.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
In order to boost domestic production, Government removes ceiling for procurement of Tur, Urad and Masur under Price Support Scheme  for 2023-24; Farmers free to sell any amount of their produce of Tur, Urad and Masur under PSS this year
The decision expected to increase the sowing area of these pulses during the upcoming Kharif and Rabi season
Department of Consumer Affairs also directs State governments to ensure strict enforcement of stock limits on Tur and Urad; and monitor their prices
In a significant step towards enhancing domestic production of pulses, the government has removed the procurement ceilings of 40% for tur, urad and masur under Price Support Scheme  operations for 2023-24. The decision, in effect, assures the procurement of these pulses from farmers at MSP without ceilings. The assured procurement of these pulses by the government at remunerative prices will help motivate the farmers to enhance sowing area in respect of tur, urad and masur in the upcoming Kharif and Rabi sowing seasons in order to enhance the production.
It may be recalled that the government had, 2nd June, 2023 imposed stock limits on tur and urad by invoking the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 in order to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation and also to improve affordability to the consumers. The stock limits have been made applicable to wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers, millers and importers. It has also been made mandatory for these entities to declare the stock position on the portal  of Department of Consumer Affairs.
In a follow up action to the stock limits imposed on tur and urad, the Department of Consumer Affairs has directed the state governments to ensure strict enforcement of the limits in their respective states. As part of enforcement, the states have also been asked to monitor prices and stocks position by verifying with various warehouse operators. Parallelly, the Department has also asked Central Warehousing Corporation  and State Warehousing Corporations  to provide the details pertaining to tur and urad held in their warehouses.